The Southern Living Food Awards

The Southern Living Test Kitchen taste-tested over 300 of the newest artisan products to find the best Southern-made foods. These are our 24 favorites and 22 runners-up.

1 of 53Photo: Hector Sanchez

The 2015 Southern Living Food Awards

We kicked off our three-day taste test by sampling nearly 60 jars of jams and jellies and ended with a side-by-side comparison of 46 different kinds of coffee. In between the sugar headaches and caffeine rushes, not only did we find the perfect pickle and the most refreshing summer beer, but also we discovered the stories of the people who make them. They all remind us that the best Southern recipes mix innovation with tradition.

2 of 53Hector Sanchez

Best Pickles: Texas Sweet Heat Pickles

Pogue Mahone Pickles
Made in Austin, TX

Cool, crisp, and zingy all at once. The sweetness of these bread-and-butter-style pickles—our favorite of all the food we tasted—tempers the piquant punch of jalapeño, mustard seeds, and black peppercorns.

Pork Clouds

Bacon's Heir
Made in: Atlanta, GA

A gourmet take on gas station rinds, kettle-cooked in olive oil for a light and airy texture with a satisfying crunch. In flavors like Malabar Black Pepper, Rosemary-and-Sea Salt, and Cinnamon Ceylon, it's an extraordinary high-low snack.

Habanero-Infused Vinegar

Frankie V's Kitchen
Made in: Dallas, TX

That tired bottle of green pepper vinegar has met its match. Frankie V's high-octane pepper sauce, made by steeping organic habaneros in organic white vinegar, is our new go-to for field peas and greens. It delivers blazing acidity.

Strawberry Balsamic Preserves

Blackberry Farm
Made in: Walland, TN

A scarlet jam made with strawberries grown in the gardens of the farmstead-style resort. The tart twist of balsamic vinegar keeps the chunky preserves vibrant, not cloyingly sweet, and the chunky texture is a perfect match to the fluffy interior of a biscuit.

Front Porch Special

Piper and Leaf Artisan Tea Co.
Made in: Huntsville, AL

A black tea blend dotted with cornflowers that produces the perfect pitcher of iced tea. It's spiked with delicate notes of cooling spearmint, jasmine, and a tinge of bittersweet orange from bergamot peel.